Fasting for children and Ramadan 2021

[Yazkiz]

Is any one's children fasting for Ramadan at 11 years old? My son is fasting for the 1st time. I'm worried especially this year with Covid if his immune system goes down during Ramadan.

@Yazkiz

Yes he goes to school everyday. He is the oldest child in the family. He was ok today. He is doing his best fasting. He looks forward to breaking the fast as a family. He is a good boy. Although he feels obliged to do it and he doesn't want to disappoint his father as he is the oldest son and his daddy said Ramadan is more important than school.

That’s a bit worrying

@ineedaholidaynow You seem to be equating being religious with being backward and uneducated. What you don't realise is that being healthy is part of being a Muslim, and copious texts have been written by health experts from Islamic perspectives for centuries. Muslims have a substantial body of literature to consult should they wish to, so there's no need to put aside religious beliefs in order to be 'educated'.

@frazzledasarock

From a health point of view our children are fine. We are also fine.

Had there been a health scare because a Muslim child chose to fast you bet it would be front page news resurrected every Ramadan.

I don't know if the OP is for real, every Muslim parent I know takes their cue from their child, children will eat if they are hungry and don't want to fast. We all have stubborn kids who want to copy us, and the littlies usually break their 'fasts' at lunchtime, or simply forget and eat.

The concern is not necessary. Although having been on MN for years, I can predict the veiled racist xenophobic posts starting each Ramadan dressed up as 'concern'.

The only time there were no posts were when the Grenfell Tower tragedy happened, and fasting Muslims being the ones who were awake that time in the night woke and alerted residents, saving many lives.

Well said.

@Yazkiz with the greatest respect, all your posts talk about what your husband/partner says and thinks.

I'm a Muslim and I have a huge part in what my children take part in. If I dont feel something is right, I will make a stand for it. I'm their mother.
Have you spoken to your husband/partner?
Its not all about your son being "a good boy", Islam does not require everyone to fast. There are exceptions. Education is vital in cases like this.

I meant to say- Educating yourself is vital. Don't just go by what other people say- do your research. Speak with scholars and imams.

@Hempden

I meant to say- Educating yourself is vital. Don't just go by what other people say- do your research. Speak with scholars and imams.

Yes this

I work in a Catholic primary so have only ever had one fasting child. We kept a supply of sugar biscuits and juice in case she started to feel unwell and the kitchen knew there was a possibility they would need to feed her. It was completely her decision. The school were fine with this as was her parents

Hempden speaks good sense.

I can predict the veiled racist xenophobic posts starting each Ramadan dressed up as 'concern'.

I think the idea of not having anything to eat or drink at all for 14+ hours for a month is something that some of us (I include myself) would find very difficult to do. I get really bad migraines if I go without food or drink for that long for example. So my question is that of curiousity. Do some fasters get headaches when fasting? And are they allowed to take paracetamol for them?

I can predict the veiled racist xenophobic posts starting each Ramadan dressed up as 'concern'.

Of course. I also second - if a fasting child had had an accident or something happened at school believe me the UK press would be at pains to bring it up every ramadan without fail. It would be on the front pages for ages. Take the cue from him and honestly OP, I don't think this is going to be the most supportive thread.

@RampantIvy

I can predict the veiled racist xenophobic posts starting each Ramadan dressed up as 'concern'.

I think the idea of not having anything to eat or drink at all for 14+ hours for a month is something that some of us (I include myself) would find very difficult to do. I get really bad migraines if I go without food or drink for that long for example. So my question is that of curiousity. Do some fasters get headaches when fasting? And are they allowed to take paracetamol for them?

I get headaches always on the first day, so far today I am headache free. As the month goes on it gets easier even when the fasting day stretches in length. No we don’t take medication, but yesterday I did put a cool pad on my head and it helped.

Fasting DC are kept a close eye on, if we see them flagging we tell them they have done well and that it would be ok for them to break their fast if they are struggling.

I have 2 DS who are Muslim but I am not. We encourage them to try if they want to but there is no pressure and especially not on a school day. In previous years they have done the odd day at the weekend. DS1 (15) finds it ok and is trying more this time. DS2 (13) is just doing the odd day. We don't let them do it on a day when they would have games or other exercise or if they had important tests or exams.

RampantIvy, if someone has migraine or any condition exacerbated by fasting, they are not obliged to fast. Yes of course they can take medication.

Thank you @IHateCoronavirus and @Plumtree391. I hope you didn't mind me asking. It must be difficult in midsummer in Northern climes, especially on hot days.

I don't mind you asking anyone anything, RampantIvy.

I'm sure it is difficult when it is hot. In Muslim countries, everything slows down somewhat during Ramadan but there are still people who have to go about busily, for work, etc. We have heatwaves here too. People take fasting as far as they can without endangering their health.

I've worked with and known many Muslims over the years and they seem to manage OK. They do eat well in the evening during Ramadan.

@rampantIvy

Fasting is not the same as being hungry. If I'm not fasting I can't miss meals without major upset but fasting is different. The body adjusts. I can't explain why but it doesn't feel the same as missing meals does. It feels good to give my digestion a rest and I feel sharper and cleansed after the month ends.
Studies show fasting can be beneficial for health provided people don't go overboard and stuff themselves at night.
Nursing mothers, pregnant and menstruating women, people who are on long journeys and people who are ill are exempt from fasting.

[quote flashbac]@rampantIvy

Fasting is not the same as being hungry. If I'm not fasting I can't miss meals without major upset but fasting is different. The body adjusts. I can't explain why but it doesn't feel the same as missing meals does. It feels good to give my digestion a rest and I feel sharper and cleansed after the month ends.
Studies show fasting can be beneficial for health provided people don't go overboard and stuff themselves at night.
Nursing mothers, pregnant and menstruating women, people who are on long journeys and people who are ill are exempt from fasting.[/quote]
This. It does feel physically good as well as spiritually. My DD has decided to do her first ‘proper’ fast this year. Yesterday during iftar she said her favourite bit was getting excited for the break of fast, like a little celebration each day. It is exciting and it is lovely sharing that with family/friends (although it is different at the moment with covid etc.).
I have lived both here with long mild summers and in a hot climate with hotter but slightly shorter days. I would say they even out in terms of challenge. It is amazing how quickly the body can adjust.

There's a lot of emphasis being placed on your son for being the eldest son, what's that got to with fasting?

There's a Ramadan thread in the spirituality board, I'd suggest you ask MNHQ to move it there.

11 is way too young to be fasting, I started when I was 16 & my mum didn't go on about me being a good child either. It's far more important that you teach your children the spiritual importance of fasting now rather than making him fast. He's still young and growing and fasting isn't more important than education. It can be incorporated into his spiritual education, you need to develop a balanced young man.

@Yazkiz

Yes he goes to school everyday. He is the oldest child in the family. He was ok today. He is doing his best fasting. He looks forward to breaking the fast as a family. He is a good boy. Although he feels obliged to do it and he doesn't want to disappoint his father as he is the oldest son and his daddy said Ramadan is more important than school.

Your husband isn't going to get rewarded for your son fasting. No way should your son be fasting just to impress his father or impress his cousins in Pakistan as you've mentioned above. Maybe you should explain Ramadan to your child first and then let him decide what he would like to do.

Most parents don't bother teaching the reasoning behind fasting and children keep them thinking it'll impress others and they'll be rewarded with a feast.

Why not suggest they don’t snack between meals I.e. no snacks

But still eat lunch

That way they are joining in in their own way

He will be returning to school next weeks and I do worry about him doing PE on an empty stomach.

I was going to suggest not fasting on PE day, not so much for the lack of food but for the lack of drink. It's my understanding that he could make up any days like that but I see you are doing alternate days.

Lots of children like to fast in some form or another during Ramadan, I know one little girl who fasted for "an hour at a time, with sweets in-between"

With teenagers it can become a bit of a competition.

As for education. Well this is the time for him to learn about Ramadan and I'd suggest the fasting people of other faith do and how they differ (Jewish 25 hours, RC fasting and or abstinence etc etc)

My understanding is that the Qur'an says fasting should only start once the child has reached the age of puberty. Of course, this can be as early as 9 years old and us child dependent. But as a general rule, we always say to wait until at least Year 7 if secondary school and even then, not on PE days or extremely hot days. My concern more is that no water can be drunk as well s no food eaten. Plus, if the child feels they can't continue for the whole day, they may feel they have failed if they have to break their fast! In which case, my dh says its better to not do it in the first place.

I don't share the same worry as others here about fasting and health. There is virtually no concern about blood sugar over such a short period of time with a normal healthy person (even little person), intermittent fasting is safe. Water can be a concern if the kid is quite active and/or it's hot out so that's something to look out for but just gotta let them know to take it easy and not participate in anything strenuous and let them know they can break fast and take a drink if they get really hot/thirsty.

I do think it's quite concerning the comment about ramadan being more important than education. That's the type of comment that goes down the path toward radicalization and i would be very weary of that.

@Yazkiz

Yes he goes to school everyday. He is the oldest child in the family. He was ok today. He is doing his best fasting. He looks forward to breaking the fast as a family. He is a good boy. Although he feels obliged to do it and he doesn't want to disappoint his father as he is the oldest son and his daddy said Ramadan is more important than school.

I am amazed at this. Your DH’s father is really doing him a disservice here.